July 11, 2005 On July 9, X-Games gold medalist skateboarder Danny Way became the first person to successfully jump the Great Wall of China without motorized aid. With the support of Quiksilver, DC Shoes, and the government of China, Way designed the Beijing MegaRamp at the 3,000-year-old Ju Yong Guan Gate, about 20 miles from Beijing.
Way attempted to clear the World Heritage-listed structure five times. On the first try, he cleared the 61-foot gap, but dropped his board on the landing and slid down the ramp on his back. The next four attempts all met with success, and on the last three jumps, Way even added a 360-degree spin.
“I was aware of the dangers and my heart was pumping in my chest the whole time, but I managed to pull it off with the help of my team, and I’m honored to have my visions embraced by the people of China,” said Way in a press release. “Skateboarding has yet to realize its full potential, and by bringing this event to the people of China and the rest of the world, I hope I've contributed to the future of skateboarding and helped bring my sport the global attention it deserves."”
Several people have attempted to jump the Wall before, but Way is the first to make the try using a skateboard. A mountain biker died in 2002 in his attempt, according to Way’s Web site, www.dannydoeschina.com.
During a post-jump ceremony, Way was presented with a piece of the Wall by Wang Jianjur, head of the Ministry of Culture. “I feel like I have left a piece of myself on the Wall,” said Way on his Web site, “and now I have a small part to take home with me.”
The feat was originally planned for June 18 and 19, according to Way’s website, www.dannyway.com. “It got pushed back,” said Elana Weiss, a partner at The Rose Group, which handles public relations for Quiksilver. “Doing events in China, there are a lot of government officials, and weather was an issue. [The delay] was just a lot of different things coming together.”
See video of the historic jump at www.dannydoeschina.com.
